Two Martin County men were recently taken into custody on various charges after they alledgedly took part in multiple acts of deer poaching last weekend.
Conservation Officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources say last Saturday November 11th, an officer was contacted by an anonymous caller about multiple whitetail deer that had been shot illegally.
The officer conducted a series of interviews with multiple individuals, and was able to determine that 26-year old Brook Hawkins of Shoals, had shot and killed three whitetail bucks within a period of 48 hours.
Now conservation officers first say last Friday November 10th between the hours of midnight and 2 AM Hawkins was alledgedly searching for deer from a motor vehicle with a spotlight.
A group of three deer were located and authorities say Hawkins shot a large 9 point buck from the motor vehicle with a Ruger rifle and the aid of a spotlight. They say they then left the area and returned hours later to pick up the animal.
Authorities say the next day Saturday the 11th between the hours of midnight and 3 AM Hawkins was in a burgundy Ford truck driven by 27-year old Brandon Clifton of Loogootee.
They say Hawkins located a buck deer with a spotlight, and shot it from the vehicle. When the buck dropped Hawkins ran into the field, cut off the head, and left the body lying in the field.
It was also found that around 6 pm that same day Hawkins was in a vehicle driven by Clifton and located a buck standing in a field and shot it with a .204 Ruger rifle. Officers say the that deer was not retrieved.
Brook Hawkins was placed under arrest and charged with:
Hunting Deer by Illegal Method,
Illegal Taking-Possession of a Whitetail Deer,
Use of Artificial light to Take a Deer,
Hunting Deer with the Aid of a Motor Vehicle,
and False Informing.
Meanwhile Brandon Clifton is being charged with:
Illegal Taking-Possession of a Whitetail Deer,
Use of Artificial light to Take a Deer,
and Hunting Deer with the Aid of a Motor Vehicle
Brook Hawkins, 26
Ruger Rifle and Deer Head
Hawkins ran into the field, cut off the head, and left the body lying in the field.
